Direction signal for automobiles



Sept. 7 1926.

o. REICHE DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Nov. 8 1924 'Sept. 7 1926.

o. REICHE DIRECTION SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILE? Filed Nov. 8, 1924 2 sheets sneet 2 7 fizz/217%)" Patented Sept. 7, 1926. i PATENT @FFHCE.

OSWALD REICI-IE, F NORFOLK, NEBRASKA.

DIRECTION SIGNAL FDR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed November 8, 1924'. Serial No. 748,723.

This invention relates to direction sigthe drum, as at 17 and having intermediate nals for automobiles, and more particularly their ends upon their inner faces outstandto a manually controlled direction signal ing flanges 18 engaging the outer surfaces having illuminating means actuated when of the lenses. 60

6 the signal is in any of a number of given An outer drum 19 is provided of greater positions. diameter than the drum and forming the An important object of the invention is casing for the drum 10. This outer drum to provide a device of this character which 19 is open-ended and has applied to theends may be cheaply and readily produced, which thereof retaining rims 20 having bayonet 10 is readil I assembled, and in which the conslot engagement with the outer drum, as at struction is such that there is little l'llIGli- 21, and having at their inner edges inwardhood of the device becoming inoperative in 1y projecting flanges 22 engaging against use. the outer faces of the flanges 18 of the A still further object of the invention is collars l6 and slidably abutting with their 15 to provide a device of this character which outer faces the inner walls of these collars,

may be employed with either closed or open so that the inner drum 10 is rotatably m0unt- Vehicles. ed within the outer drum but held against These and other objects 1 attain by the longitudinal movement therein. This outer construction shown in the accompanying drum is provided with a tubular extension 20 drawings, wherein for the purpose of ilwithin which is arranged a springlustration is shown a preferred embodiment pressed latch 52% having in the face thereof of my invention and wherein next adjacent the inner drum a notch 25 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a signal receiving the contact members 12 as they constructed in accordance with my invencome into alignment therewith. The outer H end of this contact is electrically connected Fi 21 ti l sectional view therewith one terminal of a source of current th h; 26, the opposite terminal of which is ground Fi 3 1;; a ti on th li 3 3 of ed to the casing drum at the tubular exten- Fi 2; sion thereof, as indicated at 27. Secured to 30 Fi 3 i a ti on thg 11 g wg the drum 10 and wound thereabout in opf Fi 2, posite directions area pair of flexible ele- Figure l is a perspective of the clamp ments 28 and 29, the free ends of which are employed for holding this signal in position provided with means, as at 30, whereby they upon the vehicle. may be readily engaged with the hand.-

35 Referring now more particularly to the These ends are trained out through the tudrawings, the numeral 10 indicates a cylinbular extension 23, and it will be obvious drical metallic drum provided inteiorly that by pulling upon one of these flexible ith a la k t 11, t rminal f whi h elements the drum will be rotated in one diis grounded to the casing. The second ter rection and by pulling upon the other there- 40 minal of this socket is connected in series of the drum will be rotated in the opposite with a plurality of contacts 12 extending direction. through and insulated from the drum wall Since the latch also forms contact for at points spaced circumferentially theresupplying current to an illuminating eleabout in a common plane at right angles to inent 31 disposed within the socket 11, it

45 the axis of the drum. The contact ends of will be obvious that as each ofthese memthese contact members are formed to prohere comes into engagement with the latch vide V-shaped lugs as shown. The casing the signal is illuminated and if left in enis provided interiorly with circumferentially gagement therewith will continue to be ilspaced, transversely extending spacer elelumiinated. The means for securing the con 50 ments 13, the ends of. which are provided tact with the latch member preferably conwith resilient tongues 14 against which are sists in .a pair of nuts 32 engaged with the engaged the peripheries of lenses 15 closend of this latch member and which by their ingtheends of the drum. The lenses are engagement with a tube 33, through which maintained in engagement with the resilient the latch member operates, prevent the latch 55 tongues l t by means of collars 16 having member intermediate the contacts 12 from bayonet slot engagement with the ends of coming into an electrical engagement with the inner drum and thus short-circuit the source of current 26. The lenses have arranged thereon an indicator pointer 34 showing theposition in which the signal is arranged. The tube '33 is insulated from the casing as at 33 I It will be obvious that since the operation of this device takes place through the tubular extension, a device of this character may be readily applied to a closed vehicle by simply forming through the wallof the vehicle an openingthrough which this tubular extension may be disposed. Interiorly of the vehicle, this tubular extension may be engaged with a bracket plate, such as shown at 35, having an opening 36 through which the tubular extension may be disposed and a clamping screw 37 for holding this tubular extension in engaged position. The edges of the plate are formed to provide flanges having spaced openings 38 for the reception of a securing element which may be engaged with the woodwork of the vehicle. In order that such a plate may be likewise employed where it is desired'to secure the device in position upon an open vehicle and upon the windshield frame thereof, the under surface of the plate is formed with a shallow concave notch 39 extending entirely across the plate between two adjacent openings 38. These openings may be then employed for reception of the ends of the arms of a U-bolt 40 for clamping the plate in position upon the windshield frame. 7

It will be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing fromthe spirit of my invention, and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a signal of the character described, an outer drum, an inner drum rotatable within the outer drum, a socket for an illuminating element within the inner drum, a latch element carried bythe outer orum and free from contact wit-h and insulated from the inner drum, a plurality of coacting latch elements carried by the inner drum and insulated from the inner drum and adapted to successively engage with the latch element of the outer drum, the latch elements of'the inner drum being each connected with one terminal of the socket of the inner drum, the second terminal of the socket of the inner drum being connected with the drum, means for rotating the inner drum and lenses having pointer indicia carried by the inner drum.

2. In a signal of the character described, an outer drum, an inner drum rotatable within the outer drum, a socket for an illuminating element within the inner drum, a latch element carried by the outer drum, a plurality of coacting latch elements carried by the inner drum and adapted to successively engage with the latch element of the outer drum, the latch elements of the inner drum being each connected with one terminal of the socket of the inner drum, the second terminal of the'socket of the inner drum being connected with the drum, means for retating the inner drum, lenses having pointer indicia carried by the inner drum, the latch element of the outer drum having a stem, a casing throughwhich' the stem extends, a spring within the casing projecting the latch element toward the inner drum, and means at the outer end of the stem for attaching.

thereto a lead wire and for limiting the movement of the outer drum carried latch element toward the inner drum.

3. In a signal of the character described, an outer drum, an inner drum rotatable within the outer drum, a socket for an illaminating element within the inner drum, a latch element carried by the outer drum and free from contact with and insulated from the inner drum, a plurality of coacting latch elements carried by the inner drum and insulated from the inner drum and adapted to successively engage with the latch element of the outer drum, the latcheleinents of the innerdrum being each connected with one terminal of the socket of the inner drum, the second terminal of the socket of the inner drum being connected with the drum, and means for rotating the inner drum, lenses having pointer indicia carried by the inner drum, the latch element of the drum being spring-pressed and having a notch receiving the coacting latch element of the inner drum and to thereby yieldably maintain the inner drum in adjusted position.

4. In a signal for automobiles, an inner cylindrical drum having its ends closed by lenses, bearing pointer indicia, an illuminating element within the drum, means for retaining the lenses in position in the drum and including means providing upon the drum at opposite ends thereof outstanding longitudinally directed perimetric flanges, an outer drum of reater size than the inner drum, retaining rims engaged with opposite ends of the outer drum and each having at their inner edges inwardly projecting flanges engaging against the inner faces of said perimetric flanges to thereby rotatably support the inner drum within the outer drum.

5. In a signal for automobiles, an inner cylindrical drum having its ends closed by lenses, having pointer indicia, an illuminating element within the drum, means for retaining the lenses in position in the drum and including means providing upon the drum at opposite ends thereof outstanding longitudinally directed perimetric flanges, an outer drum of greater size than the inner ing drum, retaining rims engaged with opposite ends of the outer drum and each hav ing at their inner edges inwardly projecting flanges engaging against the inner faces of said perimetric flanges to thereby rotatably support the inner drum within the outer drum, the outer drum having a radial tubular extension, and means operable through said tubular extension for rotating the inner drum.

6. In a signal for automobiles, an inner cylindrical drum having its ends closed by lenses, hearing pointer indioia an illuminatelement within the drum, means for retaining the lenses in position in the drum and including means providing upon the drum at opposite ends thereof outstanding longitudinally directed. perimetric flanges, an outer drum of greater size than the inner drum, retaining rims engaged with opposite ends of the outer drum and each having at their inner edges inwardly project ing flanges engaging against the inner faces of said perimetric flanges to thereby rotatahly support the inner drum within the outer drum, the outer drum having a radial tubular extension, and means operable through said tubular extension for rotating the inner drum comprising flexible elements wound about the drum having their ends extended through the tubular extension of the outer drum.

7. A signal for automobiles including an inner and an outer drum, the inner drum comprising a cylinder, lenses having pointer indioia engaged with opposite ends of the cylinder, means within the cylinder for limiting the movement of the lenses into the cylinder, collars engaged with the cylinde and having inwardly extending flanges engaging the outer faces of the lenses, said. flanges hein g arranged intermediate the ends of the collars, the outer drum comprising a cylinder, retaining rims engaged with opposite ends of the cylinder and provided at their inner edges with inwardly projecting flanges engaging the outer faces of the lens retaining flanges of the collars and slidably abutting with their outer faces the inner w lls of said collars to thereby rotatably support the inner drum within the outer drum and maintain the inner drum against longitudinal movement with relation to the outer drum.

8. A signal for automobiles including an inner and an outer drum, the inner drum comprising a cylinder, lenses having pointer indioia engaged with opposite ends of the cylinder, means within the cylinder for limiting the movement of the lenses into the cylinder, collars engaged with the cylinder and having inwardly extending flanges engaging the outer faces of the lenses, said flanges being arranged intermediate the ends of the collars, the outer drum comprising a cylinder, retail'iing rims engaged with opposite ends ofthe cylinder and provided at their inner edges with inwardly projecting flanges engaging the outer faces of the lens retaining flanges of the collars and slidably abutting with their outer faces the inner walls of said collars to thereby rotatably support the inner drum within the outer drum and maintain the inner drum against longitudinal movement with relation to the outer drum, means for rotating the inner drum, and means for maintaining the inner drum in adjusted position.

9. A signal for automobiles including an inner and an outer drum, the inner drum comprising a cylinder, lenses having pointer indioia engaged with opposite ends of the cylinder, means within the cylinder for limiting the movement of the lenses into the cylinder, collars engaged with the cylinder and having inwardly extending flanges engaging the outer faces of the lenses, said flanges being arranged intermediate the ends of the collars, the outer drum comprising a cylinder, retaining rims engaged with opposite end-s of the cylinder and provided at their inner edges with inwardly projecting flanges engaging the outer faces of the lens retain: ing flanges of the collars and slidably abutting with their outer faces the inner walls of said collars to thereby rotatably support the inner drum within the outer drum and maintain the inner drum against longitudinal movement with relation to the outer drum, means for rotating the inner drum, means for maintaining the inner drum in adjusted position, an illuminating element within the inner drum, and means for rendering the illuminating eleinent active in any of such adjusted positions including said means for maintaining the inner drum in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

OSWVALD REICHE. 

